Picture book review : The New Libearian - Alison Donald & Alex Willmore

The New Libearian by Alison Donald & Alex Willmore is a quirky, fun story that is an absolute gem for anyone who loves reading and understands the magic of books and their capacity to whisk you away to enchanted realms and imaginary lands.

The story begins with a group of children impatiently awaiting the arrival of Miss Merryweather, the librarian, for story time. 

When she doesn't show up, they start hunting for clues in the library and follow the trail until they discover a new librarian, or in this case, liBEARian !

After the children have listened to a scary story read by the bear, Miss Merryweather finally turns up, explaining that she had to clear up after a volcano erupted in the ancient history section ! As she starts to read Goldilocks and the Three Bears to the children, she realises that one of the bears is missing from the page. They call the cheeky stand-in librarian out of hiding and he climbs back into the book.

They can finally finish their story ... but now Goldilocks has gone missing !

It's a fun concept that banishes the boundary between fiction and real life, showing how reading can become escapism and allow you to imagine being in exotic places, past times or mystical make-believe lands. I did have to explain to Pierre that it's only in your imagination though, because he wondered out loud about the monsters and villains being able to step out of the stories in the middle of the night too. Didn't someone make a horror movie out of that idea ?!

For reluctant readers who think books are boring, this could be a great way of introducing the magic of storytime and the delights of reading. For those who are already convinced, it's a fun invitation to think up new ways of bringing stories out of books and into real-life, through follow-on crafting activities, pretend play and baking sessions. 

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing (18 Aug. 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848862237
• ISBN-13: 978-1848862234
• Product Dimensions: 26.2 x 0.5 x 26.7 cm

Disclosure : We received the book in order to write an honest review.

What's Cooking at The Madhouse? menu plan 4/11

Back to work and school (except for Madhouse Daddy, who is still off sick until Tuesday after his op). Monday and Tuesday are parent-teacher evenings so it'll be late getting home and I won't want to cook anything complicated - in fact, hopefully Madhouse Daddy can cook a big vat of veggie soup that will do for both days. (Otherwise I'll plan ahead and make some on Sunday night.)

Saturday 

lunch - probably back to McDonald's this week - apparently it's Shopkins in the Happy Meals so Juliette is all excited !

dinner - baked potatoes with tuna & sweetcorn or beans & cheese

Sunday

lunch - probably the usual roast, I'd guess chicken or pork, but we did end up having lamb last week in the end

dinner - smorging aka fridge grazing

Monday 

dinner - parent-teacher evening so I won't be home until 9pm so it'll be soup of some shape or form

Tuesday 

dinner - same as yesterday so leftover soup

Wednesday 

lunch - Spanish chicken and potatoes

dinner - Time to play with my Philippines-themed Kitchen Trotter kit - bilagoongan talong (a pork dish) with java rice

Thursday 

dinner - smoked sausage/chorizo & veg  stir fry with rice or pasta

Friday 

dinner - Sinigang Soup (also from the Kitchen Trotter box)

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Join in with the #MealplanMonday bloghop :

An InLinkz Link-up

Popcorn gets a makeover with Pop Works ! (review)

When Pop Works got in touch and asked if we'd like to try some of their new popcorn, I knew it would get a warm reception at The Madhouse because we all love popcorn, but I wasn't expecting anything particularly new or surprising. Then I saw the flavours they have on offer - Sweet & Salty, Sticky Toffee Pudding and - our favourite by a close margin - Apple Pie. They also have a fourth variety which we didn't try but that sounds equally original and tasty : Peanut Butter & Caramel.

As soon as we opened the bags, we could smell the individual flavour of each variety and when I told the kids to smell and then taste, they correctly identified all of them. They thought it was lighter and softer than our regular popcorn brands - I didn't notice any difference, to be honest, but they could be on to something, because Pop Works use a "wet popping" method in a kettle rather than a hot air popper. Don't worry though, it doesn't come out damp and soggy - it's just as crunchy and chewy as the usual stuff.

You really do get the flavour of the classic desserts so it's hard to get your brain around the squishy, crunchy popcorn texture that goes with it. I can't wait to see what else they come up with in the future !

The new brand is all about fun and silliness so they've asked Simone Giertz aka Mistress of Malfunction to road-test a popcorn party server that is as inane as it is innovative. It just goes to show that while Pop Works, not everything does !

RRP : £1.49 for 90g

Available in all major supermarkets.

Disclosure : We received the product in order to write an honest review.

Madhouse recipe : Mini Lemon Meringue Pie Bites

These zingy, gooey mouthfuls of deliciousness were created as a way of using up some egg whites that were left over after making ice cream with my new ice cream machine, but they were so tasty, I may have to make them again ! Imagine biting into a fluffy cloud, then getting a hit of zesty lemon curd - hmmm !

Mini Lemon Meringue Pie Bites

ingredients :

1 ready-made pastry sheet (shortcrust is best but puff would do)

lemon curd

5 egg whites

6tbsp sugar

Use a cookie cutter to cut out discs of pastry. Use them to line a greased mini muffin tin.

Bake at 180° for 5 minutes. If using puff pastry, use a knife to press down the centre if it rises.

Whisk up the egg whites to create firm peaks, then gently fold in the sugar.

If you're brave enough, you can test if it's ready by holding the bowl upside down over your head (or, even better, someone else's head !).

Put a teaspoon full of lemon curd in each pastry case.

Top each one with a dollop of meringue.

Bake for ten minutes until the meringue is slightly browned on top and soft and sticky but resists if you poke it with a finger.

The lemon curd will be very hot so leave them to cool slightly before gobbling them up !

This used up the end of a jar of lemon curd and some egg whites so I'm adding it to this month's #KitchenClearout linky.

Mr Tumble's releasing his first ever Christmas album ! (review)

I have a bit of an unwritten rule here at The Madhouse that we wait until Halloween is out of the way then it's all systems go to start the big build up to Christmas. I love all the festive cheer in the weeks before the big day and the heart-melting magic of Christmas Eve itself, especially when you have kids (or one kid now, for us) who still believe in Santa (possibly for not much longer *sniff* !). As far as I'm concerned, it's now quite reasonable to start making Christmas crafts and getting the kids thinking about their wishlists and wandering around the shops oohing and aahing at all the Christmas displays. I don't usually start dusting off my Christmas CDs until the start of December but this year, we'll be starting earlier, because we've just received a copy of Justin Fletcher's brand new festive album, called Mr Tumble's Something Special Christmas Party.

I don't know what it is about Mr Tumble that makes him so universally appealing to kids - maybe his cheeky grin and silly antics, or perhaps his genuine warmth when talking to the children on his shows ? - but whatever it is, there is something extra special (no pun intended !) about having Mr Tumble singing all the Christmas classics.

The CD's tracklist includes 20 festive songs :

1 Here Comes Santa Claus

2 Do You Wanna Build a Snowman

3 Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4 Winter Wonderland

5 Frosty the Snowman

6 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

7 A Sleigh Ride Together with You

8 White Christmas

9 I Can't Wait for Christmas

10 Silent Night

11 Let it Snow

12 Jingle Bells

13 All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

14 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

15 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

16 12 Days of Christmas

17 Little Drummer Boy

18 The Xmas Song

19 Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas Time

20 We Wish You a Merry Xmas

As you can see, it's a lovely mix of traditional songs that everyone of all ages knows, like Jingle Bells and Silent Night, as well as some older classics that the kids probably wouldn't have heard of so they'll look very impressed when you know all the words ! Just to turn the tables around, there is also the Frozen song, Do You Wanna Build a Snowman, so the kids can teach you the words. For a TV show that is based around the whole idea of being totally inclusive, it's probably no coincidence that there are no religious songs.

No stranger to the charts, Justin Fletcher’s previous album went GOLD in 2012, but this is the first album release from Mr Tumble. It's perfect as the background music to our festive crafts sessions and it would also be "something special" as a Christmas gift for any Mr Tumble fan !

• Audio CD (release date 4 Nov. 2016)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Music Tv Comp
• ASIN: B01EMTJKNW

Disclosure : We received the product in order to write an honest review.

Picture book review : Mr Mustachio - Yasmin Finch & Abigail Tompkins

We're into Movember, when multitudes of brave men across the country sprout dodgy facial hair across their chins and upper lips in the name of charity, and Maverick have the perfect book to mark the occasion : Mr Mustachio, by Yasmin Finch, with illustrations by Abigail Tompkins.

Mr Mustachio is incredibly proud of his extra long, super-duper, curly-wurly moustache that flies in the wind behind him when he walks down the street, but, after an unfortunate accident with a playround roundabout, he finds himself with a nude face - shock horror !

This absolutely will not do, but Mr Mustachio won't take his bare-faced fate lying down and works through the objects in his house that could make a stand-in moustache - this had Pierre in fits of giggles, especially when he started looking around his own room for things to stick on his face for his own moustache, starting with two rolled-up pairs of underpants !

Mr Mustachio soon finds a solution that puts a smile (and a moustache, of sorts) back on his face. We decided he should get in touch with Granny Mutton, the knitting-crazy sheep from another series of Maverick's picture books, who would sort him out in double-quick time !

It's a fun story with a nice message about looking for solutions to problems. It also shows that everyone, not just the men who can grow a real moustache, can get involved in Movember !

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing (18 Aug. 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848862202
• ISBN-13: 978-1848862203
• Product Dimensions: 26.5 x 0.5 x 26.2 cm

Disclosure : We received the book in order to write an honest review.

Globecooking recipe : Isso Thel Dhala / Chilli Prawns (Sri Lanka)

Isso Thel Dhala is a super simple and quick Sri Lankan dish, often translated as Devilled Prawns. It is traditionally very spicy but you can turn down the heat by reducing the quantity of chilli paste/powder or even omitting it completely.

Isso Thel Dhala

ingredients :

a dozen or so king prawns per person

1 onion

1 clove garlic

a drizzle of olive oil

1/2 can of cherry tomatoes (or use fresh)

a squeeze of tomato paste

a squeeze of chilli paste

1 tsp shrimp paste (optional)

1tsp smoked paprika

You can use whole prawns but I always peel them so they're easier to eat. This is the only time-consuming part of the recipe. Gently fry the onion and garlic then toss in the prawns. (Mine were pre-cooked so just needed reheating.)

Add the cherry tomatoes - mine were tinned so already had a lot of juice with them. If using fresh, you might need to add extra water/tomato puree.

Squeeze in some tomato paste and chilli paste, then stir in the shrimp paste if using - go easy (and hold your nose !), it is very strong so a little goes a long way. Add the paprika and, if not using shrimp paste, you might need a pinch of salt.

Heat, stirring, for a few minutes for the tomatoes to soften and the flavours to mingle. Taste and adjust the seasoning-spice level then serve with rice.

*** Don't miss my country-by-country globecooking recipe index ! ***

Fancy trying some other Sri Lankan recipes? How about Chicken Biryani, Crispy Medu Vada-style, Lentil Fritters, Egg Hoppers, Kadai Chicken (or Tofu) and Payasam ?

DVD review : Christmas with the Coopers

When I sat down to watch Christmas with the Coopers, I was expecting a typical festive rom-com : a cinnamon-scented dollop of overly-sentimental schmaltz, featuring the perfect family overcoming all sorts of minor disasters to have the perfect get-together for the holidays. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air to discover a totally dysfunctional family, starting with the seniors (and arguably, the biggest names on the all-star cast list), Sam and Charlotte Cooper, played by John Goodman and Diane Keaton. After forty years together, they have decided to divorce, but want one final merry Christmas together with all the family under the same roof before they tell the kids. What could go wrong? Well, with a family like theirs, pretty much everything !

With a sister arrested for shoplifting, a daughter convincing a stranger to play her boyfriend, a father bringing home a young waitress that nobody else knows and a son struggling with being a newly-separated single father, things don't get off to a good start. There were lots of moments that made me smile - the family dog (who narrates the story, with the voice of Steve Martin) constantly eating the food off the table and the ludicrous shoplifting attempt are both inoffensive examples. The young granddaughter welcoming everyone with "you're a dick" (a phrase overheard during her parents' arguments) raised a smile too, but unfortunately gives the film a 12-rating that means you can't watch it as a family.

This being Christmas, they're obviously going to get their happy ending and there wasn't even any need for Christmas magic - just a readjustment of the way you look at your life and taking advantage of the moment you're in while you're in it (sage words of advice from the doggie narrator, as he proves his point by helping himself to yet another sausage roll off the festive table !).

The film also stars Marisa Tomei, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Ed Helms, June Squibb and Amanda Seyfried. It won't win any Oscars but it's a nice, funny, heart-warming movie that will get you in the mood for Christmas.

star rating : 4/5

from Entertainment One

Available to download early 31st October

Out on DVD & On-demand 21st November

CHRISTMAS WITH THE COOPERS RELEASE INFORMATION:

Cert: 12 

Disc: Single disc DVD

RRP: £19.99

Special Features: Making The Coopers, Rags The Dog, Fun On Set, “The Light of Christmas Day” Music video by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

Madhouse diaries : A Halloween trip to the zoo

As I told you last week, our local zoo had a Halloween treasure hunt and crafting session going on during half term, so we went along to join in. It wasn't just the spooks and ghouls coming out for the day though - we actually got up close to some of the animals that usually stay hidden away at the far end of their enclosures or in their houses. The first was the otters.

We've seen them swimming around in their water area before but this time, they both came right up to the fence and sat looking at us.

They even climbed up and held on to the face - maybe they were pretending to be meerkats for Halloween !

The hens and cockerels were pecking about in the grass and the autumn leaves really showed off their bright colours.

The shaggy-haired Poitou donkeys look very placid in this photo but two minutes before, one of them was rolling around on the floor with his legs in the air !

The goats were equally playful, hopping up on the tables dotted around their enclosure.

The owls were wide awake - possibly something to do with all the dead chicks scattered around their cages waiting to be eaten, ewww !

It was also feeding time for the lynxes. Every now and again, the trap at the back of the enclosure would open, they'd go running in then come back out with a dead animal hanging out of their mouths. We couldn't see what it was that they were eating but I'd say rabbits.

After devouring their meal, they sat licking their paws to get them clean again. We've never seen them so full of life - they're usually fast asleep under the tree houses.

The reindeer were up by the fence tucking into some straw and branches.

One of the bears was out but the other was peacefully sleeping in a bear cave - usually they're both pacing around looking quite agitated so it was nice to see them seeming more settled.

The marmosets are usually licking up a sugary nectar that has been dabbed all over the enclosure but I'm not sure what they were gobbling up this time - it looked like bread. They were sitting just on the other side of a piece of glass from us, so we could see them really closely.

The anteater was hidden away in his shelter as usual, but he poked his head out a couple of times and Sophie managed to get a couple of photos.

He really does have a strange shaped head ! 

Picture book review : A Knit and a Knot - Amanda Brandon & Catalina Echeverri

Amanda Brandon and Catalina Echeverri have teamed up again for the latest baa-rilliant story featuring Granny Mutton, a fun character that we have already encountered in A Box of Socks and A Scarf And A Half. (Click through to read those reviews.)

She's still just as keen on knitting - Pierre pointed out that it's just as well she's a sheep so she's got a constant supply of free wool ! - but this time, she's given up on socks and scarves and has decided to teach her grandson, Little Lionel, to knit instead. Just like most novice knitters, he's starting out by making squares to put together as a blanket, but he's not very good - there are more knots than knits in his work !

His doting granny is nevertheless full of encouragement and praise and she says he can use her special soft red wool .. but it's disappeared ! They set off on a tour of the farmyard to find out who has taken it.

When they discover the surprising culprit, they learn that even imperfect gifts can be very gratefully received and loved - a great life lesson for any little perfectionists who get upset when things aren't absolutely right.

On the final page, Granny Mutton has roped in two new recruits for her knitting club so I'm sure she will be back with new woolly adventures. We can't wait to see what she makes next !

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing (6 Oct. 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848862199
• ISBN-13: 978-1848862197
• Product Dimensions: 26.2 x 0.4 x 26.7 cm

Disclosure : We received the book in order to write an honest review.